Great work gets noticed...bad work does too

In my first blog entry I spoke about change in regards to the progressive poster of Barack Obama, that was designed by Shepard Fairey. I was looking at FFFF! today and I saw that there was another poster that he did with Barack Obama in it. What was different about this one was that it was a direct request by Barack. Shepard spoke about this a little on his site.

I love seeing things like this happen, because it just reinforces the idea that art, design and creativity are relevant, and serve a purpose. Yesterday, I was listening to an interview with a CEO at a big ad agency, and he said the words, "it's just advertising". Those 3 words threw me off, and I actually rewound the interview to make sure those weren't the words that he said. I didn't understand why he said that. Advertising is very influential to how society is shaped and how people go about their every day lives. I've been wondering for a long time, why are there so many ads on tv that just strike, or attempt to strike, the emotion of humor? It's ridiculous to me because basically there are a lot of creatives who gamble with millions of the clients dollars and place a bet on how funny they think they can be. "It's just advertising?" I hate to say this, but those 3 words really do represent the work that's coming out of that agency, regardless of how many awards they've won.

Nike+ is a huge example of the effectiveness and relevance of advertising. R/GA and everyone who worked on the Nike+ account linked into the mindset and the life of a runner. And it didn't become "just advertising" to runners. It became apart of they're routine. They're are more examples of this, but Nike+ just sticks out to me the most right now, because I'm very impressed with it, and I've been talking about it ever since it came out.

Since the question "What makes you unique?" was posed to me back in early November, I've been picking my brain to figure out the answer. Even though that question is more deep than one may think, this is my answer, but in the form of a mission statement: I want to help save the thinking man's sport.

I'm not sure how good it is, but I know that it at least speaks to my love for baseball, which people don't like too much, and it comments on the advertising business that I hope to get into once I graduate. Baseball is something that I would love to help get people interested in. It's a great sport, and it really does involve a lot of situational thinking; and it's fun. And advertising, though in it's creative incline, is being somewhat abused right now because I don't think people realize the impact that it has on our world. But hey, maybe I'm wrong, maybe it is "just advertising".

Dirk, Ocho Cinco, and Agent 0 (I hate that name)

Good news: Dirk is back. I thought he was out for the rest of the season, but nah, HE'S BACK. I was in the city late today because I needed to go to the library, but when I got home and turned on ESPN, Dirk was back...and the Mavs were killing the Warriors. The score was 111-86, and Jason Kidd beat them in another category, 16 to 10, in assists. The played they're butts off. And as much as I would hate to see it happen again, I think Dirk spraining his ankle was good for them. Dallas looks like a whole new team. We'll see what happens because the Western Conference Playoffs is going to be tough.

Ocho Cinco is loco. Chad Johnson had one of the longest interviews on Sports Center that I have ever heard. He was just going on and on about his issues in Cincinnati. I think when you're dealing with team matters it should be kept in house, but I definitely understand what he was talking about. It's crazy (loco) that a 5-time Pro-Bowler and consistent lead leader in receptions has to be penalized for his team staying in trouble, and not making the proper adjustments to getting better. If you're curious what the interview was about check it out on espn.com. Regardless if Chad is on the Bengals or on another team, I'm still a fan...even though I think it would be better if he could win with Carson Palmer.

"Agent 0" might be one of the worse nicknames in sports, but the boy got game. Gilbert Arenas came back tonight from his season long knee injury, and even though he only had 17 points (he normally has about 30 or 40), it looks like he never left. Unfortunately for him, they lost to a buzzer beater shot by the Milwaukee Bucks. Oh well, they might still get in the playoffs, considering how terrible the Eastern Conference is right now.

It Has Begun...1 down, 161 to go

Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis, Edgar Renteria in Detroit Blue; Joe Torre in a different color blue, but with no pintstrpes; Glavine back in Atlanta; Torre Hunter in Angel red; Johan Santana in not just blue, but orange and white too; and give a warm welcome to Kosuke Fukudome being on the cubbies, especially with him going 3 for 3, and hitting a 3-run jack (3-run homerun) at the bottom of the 9th.

If that's not enough to get excited about baseball and this 2008 season, I don't know what to say. I'm very excited about this season, and I'm ready to see baseballs go over small fences and big monster fences; I'm ready to see webgems, and bases get stolen (don't worry it's legal); I'm ready to strap up my cleats and get on the field...I'm actually not physically ready yet. I have to get the Nike+ started and get back in shape. But I'll be on the field sometime soon.

Anyway, it has begun.

The View of Race

I think this episode of the View had some interesting things to think about. Racism is something that I don't think is spoken about much, and maybe it's because people feel as if it doesn't exist anymore. Anyhow, check out these two clips. Feel free to comment; I'm curious to hear what you have to say.


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!'s website

This is the interface of Modernista's new website. I think it's very innovative and unexpected. Check it out here.

Verses for today

A couple of days  ago I was watching the Cosby Show on Nick at Nite; It was the episode where Venessa got teased at school, and was called "rich girl". After hearing this, Phylicia Rashad (Clair) said, "We are not rich. Being rich is when your money is working for you, and your money is making money...and we work real hard for the money that we have. You're rich not because of money, but because of the family you have that loves you."

Yesterday I was re-reading some of the verses that were read in the Good Friday service, and Matthew 20:26-28 stuck out to me:

26    ...but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister (servant);

27    And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

28   Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered (served) unto, but to minister (serve), and to give his life a ransom for many.

In verse 28 "...and to give his life a ransom for many" is so key. Jesus gave his life for us. His purpose on earth was to minister to us. And His life was the ultimate sacrifice for us. Which shows His worth.

Our worth doesn't stem from just what we do for ourselves, but what we do for others. People in high positions are (or should be) working for their staff/employees, as much as the staff/employees are working for those in the high positions. This exchange of service builds relationships with trust, exemplifies a sense of love, and establishes how much we're actually worth.

March Madness I tell you!

My teams in sports are killing me right now. My heart, the Dallas Mavericks, continue to lose, and they're barely in the playoffs right now. And then (give me a sec to regain myself), DIRK GOT HURT, and is out for the season. It's time for Josh Howard to step it up for real.

Secondly, Duke, the team I roll with every year, they continue to disappoint me. I didn't have them in my final four, but I had them at least getting past West Virginia. The Cameron Crazies, Coach K, and the whole Duke community needs to get together and figure this out. I know they were missing pieces this year, but they gotta do better than the second round. I mean look at legacy: Grant Hill to Christian Laettner buzzer beater, JJ Reddick lightin it up from damn near the half court line every game, the crazy battles with North Carolina, and the reoccurring ACC title games with Maryland. Duke...you're better than that man.

My bracket is so messed up. I have scratch-outs and "L"s all over it. 

One thing I can say that I'm excited about. My boy Chris Paul. "Killing" might be the best word to use. Actually "MVP" might be better. He has single-handedly carried that team. Don't get me wrong, I love Kobe, I had his champion (brand) jersey when he first came into the league and I've rolling with them too, especially since him getting all the heat for breaking up the "almost the best dynasty of all-time". But CP3 has been killing, Tyson Chandler has been receiving about 3 opps a game, and David West is back and doing his thing too. Hornets are my sleeper team. Put that in the books.

Anyhow March isn't completely over, we still have the rest of this week. So maybe things will turn around.